Oil-refining mechanism.



G. H. GILLONS.

OIL RBPINING MBGHANISM.

APPLIGATION FILED 001230, 1911.

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G. H. GILLONS."

OIL REFINING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION I'ILBD 00T. 30, 1911.

Patented J an. 13, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. GILLONS, OlE LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIG-NOR T0 RICHFIELD OIL COMPANY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

OIL-REFINING MECHNISM'.

aoeaoeo. i

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEQRGE H. GILLONS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los useful Improvements in Oil-Refining Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in oil refining apparatus, and it 1s an object of the invention to provide an apparatus in which the oils to be refined may be thoroughly broken up and then subjected repeatedly to the action of heat, Whereby an early driving off of distillates of varying degrees of purity may be attained.

It is an object of the invention also to provide an apparatus in which a device is employedcapable of thorough-ly breaking up and separating the oils to be refined, after they have been given a preliminary heating, the portions which are not driven ofi' in vapor being returned and further heated.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a mechanism in which a number of separating devices adapted to break up the oil and facilitate its being driven off in vapor form may be employed, heating coils coperating therewith being provided for' successivelyv heatingportions of the oil which are not immediately driven od in vapor form.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an apparatus in which the oil to be separated may be maintained at a given height in a stand pipe whereby the oil will be fed through the refining mechanism under an even pressure, the said apparatus being adapted to successively heat the oil and also pass the same successively through separating devices.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a refining apparatus embodying the features of the present invention, portions thereof being shownrin sectlon to more clearly disclose the arrangement of the parts. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken upon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, parts of the mechanism being shown in side elevat-ion. Fig. 3 is a vertical central sectional View upon an enlarged scale taken through one of the separating devices of the apparatus. Fig. 4 is a detail View in side eleva- Specification of Letters Patent.

.application filed October 30, 1911.

Patented J an. 13, 1914.. Serial No. 657,472.

tion of a manifold pipe device for controlling the quantity of oil flowing to the heat `ing apparatus from the stand pipe.- Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and -State of California, have invented new and 'Ihe details and features of the invention wlll now be more particularly described, reference being had to the said drawing, in Which- 5 indicates a furnace which may be of any usual or ordinary constructionl and which is especially adapted to receive a number of coils as 6, 7 and 8 through which the oil to be refined may be successively passed. A burner 9 is mounted in the furnace 5 in such position as to properly heat the coils, and a stack or chimney 10 is provided for the furnace near one end thereof. Access is had to the interior of the furnace through a door 11 usually mounted upon the outer end of the furnace. Of course it will be understood that fuel not requiring a burner may be used in the furnace without departing from the spirit of the invention, it being merely intended to provide a proper and effective heating means for raising the teinperature of the oil to a proper extent. Connected with the coils 6, 7, and 8 are separators 12, 13 and 14 which are preferably arranged outside the furnace and in such position with respect thereto that each one can be reachedA separately and can be operated separately or in conjunction with the others as preferred.

The construction of the separators which are substantially similar forms an important feature of the invention and will be hereinafter more fully described.

'Iheoil is usually supplied tothe apparatus from any suitable tank 15 and piping 16 leading the crude oil therefrom delivers the same into a jacket 17 which surrounds the final outlet or residuum pipe of the apparatus so that the heat therefrom will raise the temperature of the inflowing oil to a considerable extent. The oil passes from the jacket 17 to a pump 18 which may be of any desired or ordinary type and driven by an engine 19 or a 'motor of any kind. The pump drives the oil through pipe 118 into a stand pipe 20 which is of such a height .as to cause the oil to fiow under the action of gravity, through every part ofthe apparatus as may be required. The oil 1s maintained in the stand pipe 20 at a given height by means of an over-How pipe 21 which leaves the` tank at the height at which it is desired to maintain the oil therein. A small test pipe 22 is provided leading from the pipe 21 and having a controlling valve 23 mounted therein so that the stand pipe may be tested from time to time to see whether oil is standing in the same at the required height. The pipe 21 leads the overflow from the stand pipe 20 through suitable piping 24 and back into the piping upon the suction side of the pump 18 as will be clearly understood by reference to Fig. 1. The pump may thus beV caused to always maintain the oil at theright height in the stand pipe with a slight over-flow which will merely be returned to the pump again with the incoming supply of'oil.

From the stand pipe 20 the oil is led through pipe 25 to the furnace 5 and into the first coil 6 arranged therein. From the coil 6 the heated oil passes through an enlarged pipe 26 to the rst separator 12, the said pipe 26 leading to a point beneath the same from which a branch pipe 27 extends upwardly and into the bottom of the said separator 12. A T-coupling 28 is provided at the end of the pipe 26 and closed by means of a plug 29 so that the said'pipe may be cleaned interiorly at any time in the event of the collection of obstructing materials Within the same. The said pipe 27 has an elongated tapering projectionA or nozzle 30 extending upwardly through the central part of the separator 12 to a point near the top thereof as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. A baille plate 31, preferably conical in shape, is suspended within the separator above the open end of the nozzle so that as the oils are ejected from the nozzle and strike the said plate they will be broken up and separated or sprayed in all directions Within the casing of the separator. Fumes or vapors from the oil can then- Apass around the outer .edge of the baffle plate 31 into the top of the casing and find an outlet through a pipe 32 which extends from the top of the said separator 12. The portion of the oil which still remains in a liquefied condition will drop upon a succession of perforated plates 33, 34, and 35 which are mounted within the separator and usually supported upon the nozzle 30.

The perforated plates just referred to are preferably conical in shape and formed with peripheral edges which cause the oil to tend to go through the perforations first though an excess upon the plate will be allowed to run over the edge thereof. The

dropping of the oil from one plate to the other tends to further break up and vaporize the same, and also tends to render the oil more susceptible to the refining action of the heat when the liquid portion thereof is returned to the next he'ting coil. The intermediate plate 34 is pre erably reversed in position and shapel with respect to the upper and lower plates 33 and 35 as will bc clearly understood by reference to Fig. 3 of the drawing so that t-he oils must pass through the perforations of the plate 34 in order to drop onto the plate An air pipe 36 is provided for the separator preferably entering the same about half way of its height, the said pipe 3G being also provided with a controlling valve 37. The action of the separator and the driving off of the fumes or vapors produced therein are facilitated by the introduction of air under pressure between the liquid part of the-oil, which collects in the bottom of the separator and the fumes or vapors which collect atthe top thereof, the air tending to very quickly and thoroughly drive ofi' the vapors through the pipe 32. The separator is also provided with a series of draw oif cocks 38 of any desired type which are tapped into the wall of the separator at different heights asl clearly shown in Fig. 3. By the use of Aany one of these draw off cocks the condition of the contents of the separator may be determined at any time.

The -liquid portions of the materials in the separator will pass out through a goose neck 39 leading from the bottom of the separator, the goose neck rising to such a height above the bottom thereof as to maintain the liquid at a given height between the bottom of the said separator and the lower plate 35 thereof. From the goose neck the oil is led through piping 40 back to the furnace and into the next heating coil as for instance the coil 7. In the event of the oil accumulating too rapidly in the separator 12, a second outlet with a goose neck 41 is provided which latter goose neckV extends to a higher level than the goose neck 39. Thus normally, oil will pass from the separator through the goose neck 39 and the piping 40. In the event, however, of the oil rising unusually high in the separator, it will pass out through the goose neck 41 and through piping 42 to the piping 24 whereby it will be returned to the ump 18 again and introduced into the stand) pipe 20 anew.

The description of the separator 12 sets forth the structure of the other separators 13 and 14 also, and the particular construction of said separators 13 and 14 need not therefore be further enlarged upon, it being merely necessary to indicate that the oill returned from the separator 12 will be passed through the heating coil 'i' for fur-. ther heating, and thence through an enlarged pipe 43vto the bottom of the second tank-13 whence it enters the said separator through the same form of mechanism as above described, With respect to the separator 12. The said separator 13 is provided with an outletpipe 44 for the outlet of the vapors from said separator. rfhe liquid portions of the oil from the said separator 13 are adapted to be conducted through a pipe similar to the pipe 40 and provided with a goose neck 139 in the same manner as described with respect to the said pipe 40, the oil thus being led into the heating coil 8. @il rising above the level of the goose neck 139 will pass through goose neck l41-pipe 142 to pipe 24e-as' from separator 12. Valves 137 and 138 perform same function `as valves 37 and 38 to separator 12. From the said heating coil 8, the oil passes through 'an enlarged pipe 46 to the bottom of the separator 14, from which it escapes through the nozzle within the separator to be broken up and distributed as already described Witi respect to the separator 12. The vapors from the said separator 14 find an outlet at the top thereof through a pipe 47, the residuum escaping through neck 241 to pipe 67. The oil may thus-be repeatedly yheated and separated in the coils and separators successively as above set forth.

The continual passage of the materials through the separators and the heating coils makes it possible to obtain vapors of different degrees of purity so that products of different standards may be separated and collected.

llt will also be understood that a greater or less number of separators and coils may be employed within the spirit of the invention, and in fact the apparatus will accomplish the se aration of the oil products in.

a more or ess pure condition with merely one of such separators as 12. ltt is far preferable however to use a plurality of separators, say two, three or more since distillates of far higher percentages of purity may be thus readily obtained. The said tanks have their vapor outlet pipes connected with a suitable manifold-system of piping, so that the vapor products from one or more of them, may be separated and led into one collecting reservoir orl another as found desirable or each one maybe led into a different collecting reservoir, or all of them may be directed intoa final reservoir after the oil products have been successively passed through all of the separators and heating coils. Thus it will be observed by reference to Fig. 1 that the vapors from all of the pipes 32, 44 and 47 may if desired bev led into a pipe 48, valves 49, and 51 being provided for permitting of the entrance of the ingredients from said pipes' to the said pipe 48.

. The products from the separators when i collected and directed into the pipe 48 are preferably condensed therein by means ofa cooling jacket 52 through which the said pipe 48 passes on its way to the collecting tank or reservoir 53. The said jacket is maintained in cooled condition by passing cold water through the same 'from a tank 54,

an ordinary pump 55 being employedfor the purpose. The said pump 55 operated in any desired manner draws the water from the tank 54 and forces it through-a pipe 56 into and through the said jacket 52, the water returning from the jacket to the said tank 54 and through a pipe 57. Similar valve controlling connections are made between each of the pipes 32, 44 and 47 with piping 58 and 59 which lead through cooling jackets 60 and 6l and thence into other collecting tanks not shown. The vapors may thus be directed from any or all of the said separator discharge pipes, into any one of the collecting tanks or a separate collecting tank may be used entirely and exclusively for any one of the said separators or the products may be grouped in coming from the different separators so that .the products from two of them may be led into one tank and from the other into another tank. It will be understood of course that the system of distribution of the products from the separators may be further elaborated within the spirit of the invention.

In supplying the oils to be separated and purified from the stand pipe to the coils and separators, the amount of oil flowing tothe system is controlled by a simple expedient and an arrangement of by-'pass pipes as shown in Fig. 4. The pipe 2 5 1s provided with a valve 62 and by-pass pipes 63 and 64 with controlling valves 65 and 66 respectively. The pipes 63 and 64 are connected to the pipe 25 on either side of the valve 62, so that the oil may be led around the v alve 62 when a reduced How of oil is required. The pipe 63 is of less diameter than the pipe 25 and the pipe 64 is of less .diameter than the pipe 63. It will be readily understood that by a manipulation of the valves 62, 65, and 66 the oil may be forced to pass through any one of the pipes 25, 63 or 64 in accordance with the quantity of oil flow required to the furnace.

After the oils have been reduced to the desired extent the residuum or remaining products are led from the final separator through the goose neck 241 to pipe 67 which extends through the jacket 17 to a residuum tank 68. The heat from the residuum will thusbe utilized in warming the inflow of crude oil from the tank 15 to the pump 18 as heretofore referred to.

The operation of the device, it is believed, will be fully understood in connection with the above description since it has been particularly brought out with reference to each of the parts described, and it will he understood that oil in crude form may be maintained at a desired height inthe stand pipe 20 and can be fed through some or all of the heating coils in the furnace and pass through some or all of the separators for breaking up the oil and driving off the vapors therefrom which are afterward condensed and collected in thetanks provided therefor. It will also be understood that byv successively breaking up the oil and heating it, a. very refined product mayI be obtained and that hy taking the products from the different tanks, oil products or distillates of varying degrees of purity may be attained.

ln the use of this mechanism it is also found that it is possible to treat oil even when a considerable percentage of water or moisture is present therein. This has been diflicult to accomplish in other methods of purifying crude oils, it being usually necessary to treat the oil when there is not more than one per cent. of moisture present. ln actual use the apparatus of the present invention has already been found'capable of thoroughly accomplishing its work when any percentage of water was present in the oil, The employment of the T-couplings 2S affords a ready access to the interior of the enlarged pipes 26, 48, and 46 in which some impurities collect from time to timey due to the heating of the oils in the coils and the said pipes may readily be cleansed.

What I claim is l. An apparatus for refining oils, comprising a series of heating coils adapted to successively receive a continuous flow of liquid oil for heating, separating devices adapted to break up and separate the liquid oil from its vapors,- the oil being passed through one of said separating devices before delivering the same to each successive heat-ing coil, and means for delivering the vapors from said separators to suitable collecting mechanism.

2. An apparatus for refining oil comprising a furnace having a series of heating coils mounted therein, separators outside the furnace but receiving the oil in its passage between each of the said heating coils, said separators having nozzles therein, and distributing baffle plates for thoroughly breaking up the oil and separating it from its vapors. piping for leading the vapors to any suitable point for collection, and a standpipe extending higher than any of the separating and heating devices, whereby the cil to be refined will be fed to the mechanism under a uniform pressure.

3. An oil refining mechanism comprising a heating device, coils of piping arranged therein, separators mounted outside the heating devices and having connection with` the said coils, a feed stand pipe for regulating the pressure at which the oil is delivered to the heating and separating mechanism, a pump for delivering the crude oil into the stand pipe and maintaining it atthe desired level therein, an over-flow pipe leading from the stand pipe back to the pump whereby any excess of liquid in the stand pipe will be returned to the circulating system, means for controlling the quantity of oil flow from the stand pipe to the heating devices, and means for collecting the vapors and residuum from the separating tanks.

4. An oil refining mechanism comprising heating coils, a furnace inclosing the same, means for delivering the oil to be refined to said coils in succession, separators interposed in the connections between the coils, and having interiorly arranged nozzles, baffle plates for receiving the oil from the nozzles and spreading the same in the separators, perforated plates also mounted in the said separators and adpted to further break up and distribute the oil and permit vapors to escape therefrom, piping for leading the vapors from said separators, piping for leading the liquid oil back to the furnace, having a goose neck connection for controlling the height of the oil in each separator, each of said separators also having an overflow pipe with a higher goose neck for returning an excessive amount of oil from the separators to the supply system of the apparatus.

5. An oil refining apparatus comprising a furnace, heating coils mounted therein, separators mounted outside the furnace, enlarged piping interposed between each coil and its respective separator, removable plugs for permitting access to said enlarged piping for cleaning the same, piping leading from each of the separators for conductingvapors, therefrom, condensers for cooling the said piping and reducing the vapors to liquefied form again, and means for receiving and holding the said materials thus purified. 6. A refining' apparatus comprising a furnace, heating .coils mounted therein, separators interposed in the piping between said coils, and having means therein for breaking up and facilitating the separation of vaporsfrom liquid oil, means for introducing air under pressure into said separators so as to lift the vapors from the oils and facilitate the driving ofi'l of the said vapors, and collection tanks for receiving the vapors from the said separators.

7 An oil refining apparatus comprising a heater, coils mounted therein, separators associated with the coils, means for driving the oil through a coil first and thence into a separator, and thence into another coil and another separator in succession, piping for delivering the oil vapors from said separators, tanks for receiving thesame, a manifolding piping having valves controlling the same for delivering the products separately from each separator to each tank or collectively from all the separators to one tank or from part of the separators to some of the tanks and part to others. v

8. An oil refining apparatus comprising a heating furnace, coils therein, separators supply having piping leading to said pump,

a jacket forming a part of said piping and a residuum outlet pipe leading from the systemand passing through said jacket whereby the heat from the residuum will produce an w initial heating of the oil before it enters the coils of the furnace.

l). A relining apparatus for oil comprising a heating furnace, coils mounted therein, separators associated with said coils, a

15 stand pipe for delivering oilI at a given pressure to the coils and separators, piping leading from said stand pipe to said mechanism having a valve controlling the same, by-pass pipes 0f different diameters connecting the said piping on opposite sides of said valve, and valves in said ley-pass pipes, the adjustment of the valves controlling the quantityo'l oil flow delivered from the stand pipe t the refining apparatus.

In witness that claim the foregoing l[ have hereunto subscribed my name this 18th day of Uct., 1911.

GEORGE H. GILLONS.

Witnesses E. STADLMAN, EARLE R. POLLARD. 

